The Ottawa free trader., 1887-10-08
rs, and didn't they find my lady in pin.

by surprise when my lady came riding up
from Virginia with all those fine cavaliers,
Just to see what his excellency was doing
at these assembly balls. And fine doings,
dare say"
"This is but idle gossip, Thankful" +"
said Capt. Brewster with the faintest ap-
pearance Of self consciousness; 1.-THE as
sembly balls are conceived by the general
to strengthen the confidence Of the towns
folk, and mitigate the rigor OF the winter
encompment 60 there myself rarely:
have but little taste for junkcting and
gavotting, with my country In such need
No, Thankful what we want is leader;
and the men Of Connecticut feel 1t keenly
II / have been spoken OF in that regard, !"
added the captain with u slight imitation
Of his manly breast, ''it Is because they
know OF my sacriiices-because as New
England yeomen they know my devotion
to the cause. They know OF my suffer
ing"--
The bright face that looked into his was
suddenly ailre with womanly sympathy,
the pretty brow was knit the sweet eyes
overnowed with tenderness. Forgive
me, Allan forgot-perhaps, love-per-
haps, dearest, you are hungry now"
"No, not now," replied Capt. brewster,
with gloomy stoicism; ''yet," he added,
"it is nearly week since have tasted
meat
T-I-brought n few things with me, I"
continued the girl, with certain hcsitat-
ing timidty, She reached down and pro-
duced a basket from the shadow OF the
wall "Thcsc chickens" held up q
pair Of pullets-"the chief
himself could not buy; / kept them for
my commanderl And this pot OF MARINA
lade, which know my Allan loves, is the
same put up last summer. l thought
[very tenderlyl you might like piece OF
that bacon you liked 80 once dear. All,
sweetheart, shall we ever sit down to our
little bOardy Shall we ever see the end Of
this awful war? Don't you think, dear
(very pleadinglyl, it would be best to give
it upY King George is not such very
bad man, is hep I've thought, sweetheart
livery confidently, that mayhap you and
he might make 1t all up without the aid
Of those Washiugtons, who do nothing
but starve one to death. And il the king
only knew you, Allan-should see you as
/ do, sweetheart-he' d do just as you
say"
During this speech she handed him the
several articles alluded to; and he re-
ceived them, storing them away in such
receptaces Of his clothing as were conve-
nient--with this notable difference, that
with her the act was graceful and pic
turesque; with him there was ludicrous-
ness of suggestion that his broad shoul-
ders and uniform only heightened.
81 think not of myself lass, he said,
putting the eggs in his pocket and but
toning the chickens within his martial
breast. ~ think not of myself, and per-
haps often spare that counsel which is
but little needed. But / have duty tC
my men-to Connecticut. [IIe here tied
tho marmalade up in his handkerchief.
confess | have sometimes thought
might, under oyocation, be driven to eX'
treme measures for the good Of the cause
|
butt
"With you Mt the head Of the army y
D. broke In Thankful enthusiastically
"peace would be declared within fort
night"
There Is no fattery, however outrage
GUS, that man will not accept from the
woman whom he believes loves him. He
will perhaps doubt its influence In the
colder judgment Of mankind; but he will
consider that this poor creature, at least
understands him, and in some vague way
represents the eternal but unrecognizet
vcrities. And when this is voiced by lips
that are young and warm and red, 1t IL
somehow quite rs convincing as the blood
less, remoter utterance Of posterity.
Wherefore the trooper complacentl!
buttoned the compliment over his ches
with the pullets.
~ think you must go now, Allan" sh'
said, looking Mt him with that pseudo
maternal air which the youngest of womeI
sometimes assume to their lovers, rs
the doll had suddenly changed sex ant
grown to mans estate. "You must g
now, dear, for IL may so chance that fathe
Is considering my absence overmuch Yo'
will come again a-Wednesday, sweetheart
and you will not 90 to the assemblies, no
visit Mistress Judith, nor take any sir
pick-a-back again on your black horse
and you will let me know when you ar
hungryy"
She turned her brown eyes lovingly, ye
with certain pretty trouble in the brow
and such searching, pleading inquir
in her glance, that the captain kissed he
ut once. Then came the final embrace
performed by the captain in half per
functory, quiet manner, with due regar
for the friable nature Of part Of his provis
, ions. Satisfying himself Of the integrit
! of the eggs by feeling for them in hi
pocket, he waved military salute wit
the other hand to Miss Thankful and wa
gone. A few minutes later the sound G
his horses hoofs rang sharply from tn
, icy hillside.
But as he reached the summit tw
horsemen wheeled suddenly from tn
shadow Of the roadside and bade him halt
Al l.. =